Associated Students, Inc., hosted a carnival today and collected 45 voter registration forms to round off Hornet Welcome Week.

Students flocked to the free pizza and drinks ASI offered during the carnival, but the meal also came with a brief lesson of ASI’s functions for the campus community and an opportunity to register to vote.

ASI also informed students about the importance of voting, updating voter registration, and becoming involved in student campus life.

Erika Alatorre, Office of Governmental Affairs director, put the scope of the ASI in perspective with other forms of student governments.

ASI Executive Vice President Roberto Torres helped organize the event as an introduction for incoming students and as a way of making students feel included in the campus community.

“I want ASI to be the go-to organization for any issues-ASI or not,” Torres said.

“We are different from the ASGs in high school,” Alatorre told the crowd around the ASI tent.

“We’re a $10 million corporation [that] thrive not only to educate students about politics and government, but to get involved in politics and government.”

The Office of Governmental Affairs will be coordinating Constitution Week on Sept. 15 – 19, five days of voter registrations drives, political discussions and documentaries. Constitution Week will serve as a springboard for politically active students to connect with each other, and an opportunity for other students to become aware of the political process and register to vote.

University President Alexander Gonzalez was optimistic about the number of campus organizations reaching out to students.

“From what I can see, it’s very successful,” Gonzalez said as he walked through the Quad. “It’s not over yet. I have a palpable feeling that it’s a success; this campus is making sure that students are feeling welcome. It’s a great campus.”

Ben Schilter can be reached at [email protected]